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1,615 116 Jan. 18, 192 F, L. ELLIS FOLDABLE IRONI NG BOARD Filed May 16, 1925 Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES FENWICK I]. ELLIS OF DARIEN CENTER, NEW YORK.

FOLIDABIiE IRONING BOARD.

Application filed May 16, 1925. Serial No. 30,687.

This invention relates to improvements in ironing boards or tables.

One of its objects is to provide a firm foldable ironing board having improved means for adjusting the same to various heights to suit the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ironing board of this character which, while simple and inexpensive to manufacture, is strong, durable and rigid inconstruction.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in sec tion, of an ironing board embodying my improvements. Figure 2 is a bottom plan View thereof showing the same in its folded position. Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse verticalsection on line 33,Fig. 1. Figure 4 is a detached perspective view of the tablebracei Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The improved board consists of a table 10 provided adjacent one end thereof with a pair of depending brackets 11. For the pur pose of sustaining the table in a substan tially horizontal position, a pair of pivotally connected main and auxiliary supporting frames 12, 13 are provided, the frame 12- being somewhat longer than the companion frame 13 and consisting of downwardlyconverging bars or pivot legs 14L which are pivoted at their divergent upper ends to pivot bolts 15 carried by the brackets. As shown in Fig. 2, the converging lower ends of these legs meet and are joined together by a bolt 16. The shorter or auxiliary frame 13 consists of a pair of downwardlydiverging bars or legs 17 which are pivoted to the companion rear legs of the main frame on a transversetie-bolt 18, spacing sleeves 19 being mounted on this bolt between the opposing faces of the legs of the respective sup porting frames. As shown in Fig. 2, the converging upper ends of the legs 17 are sufiiciently spacedapart to straddle the companion legs l t in the folded position of the supporting frames.

For the purpose of adjusting the table to various heights to suit the user, the upper ends of the legs 17 are provided with pins or studs 20 which are adapted to engage one or another of a row of corresponding openings 21 preferably formed in metallic bars or strips 22 secured to the underside of the table by screws 23 or other appropriate fastenings. By swinging the auxiliary support 13 relatively to the companion support 12 and engaging the pins 20 with one or another pair of the openings 21, the table can be readily adjusted to any desired height. As shown in Fig. 1, the ends of the legs containing the pins are preferably rounded or convex and bear directly on the undersides' of the corresponding perforated bars 22.

To stiffen the overhanging front end of the table, a tie rod or tensioning member 24;,

preferably of wire and Y-shaped, is pro vided, which is hinged at its upper end to depending ears 25 preferably formed at the front ends of the perforated bars 22, while its lower end terminates in a lateral pin or stud 26 which is adapted to interlock with one or another of a series of openings 27 formed in a bar 28 arranged lengthwise of the main supporting frame. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said bar 28 is located between the converging lower ends of the legs 14: and is fastened at its opposite ends to crossbraces 29, connected to said legs. In order to prevent the tie-member 241 from becoming accidentally disengaged from the bar 28, a swinging latch-bar orguard 31 is preferably provided which is pivoted at its lower end to the corresponding end of the bar, while its upper end is adapted to enter a notch 32 formed in the cross-brace 80 to holdthe free end of the bar against lateral displacement. In its operative position, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, this guard extends lengthwise of the bar 28 and overlies the lower end of the tie member to retain its pin in an opening of the bar, the guard being co-extensive with the row of openings 27 to lock the tie member in place in all adjustments of the table.

After unfolding the table and its supporting frame and engaging its pins 20 with the desired openings 21 of the table, the pin 26.0f the tie member is interlocked with a suitable opening 27 of the frame. This is done by bearing down on the overhanging front portion of the table, which causes springing of that portion of it more or less and also downward deflection of. the. resilient front, lhgs of" the frame by the fulcruming of the table on the upper ends of the rear leg-members. While these parts. are in this sprung position, the pin of the tie member is interlocked with the lowest of. the open.- ings 27 reached by it, whereupon the user releases the pressure on the table. member is thereby placed under tension and tends constantly to draw the table and the front" legs together, holding the table with considerable firmness. For this purpose, the side bars of the front leg are preferably made of comparatively resilient: wood, such as white ash, maple or hickory, while the tablez-may-be ofi basswood orpine.

When itis desired to disconnect the tie member from the bar 28', the guard is swung to the position shown. by full lines in Fig. 1'. In the folded position of the ironingboard the" pin of the tie member is adapted to" engage an eye SEE-depending from the v underside of the table. a

In ord'erto holdi the supporting frames i their folded position against the table, as shown by dotted. lines in 1,. a springpressed locking bolt 34 is arranged on the underside of'thetable adj acent the front end thereof and is adapted: to interlock with a socket-35 formed in: the lower cross-brace 29 of the legs 14. In swinging thelegdraanes to their folded position against the underside of the table,. the leg frame 13 is first disengaged from looking engagement with the table and then. swung inv the? direction of the arrow to bring the same alongside the companion. leg frame 12, after which the latter is: swungupward into locking" engage ment with the spning=pressed bolt. It will be noted that in: this folded )osition,

. theshorterleg frame is prevented: nom unfoldingby re'asonof its upperends abutting against the underside; of the board.

By constructing and arranging the legframes in: thismanner, a three-point bearing with the. fiber. is provided, which results in the. ironing table being supported in a ham and: level position. The means for adjustably connecting; the leg-frame- 13 with the table combinedi with thetiemember 24,.produees: ani ironing board which is' stiff. and sturdy and can bereadily handled without danger ofv its accidentally collapsing.

V In the appended claims, the main. and auxiliary frames-.12,. 1-3 are together termed a folding frame; the part thereof above the framepivot 18 tmwhich the table ishinged, is-;referred to astheinclined. rear supporting member, and. the part. thereof above said frame-pivot, upon which the table rests, is

referred to as the inclined front supporting member.

I claim as my 1nvent1on:

1. The combination of a foldable frame 7 including inclined front and rear supporting members, an ironing table pivoted at its rear end to'said rear supporting memberand normally resting on said front supporting member and overhanging the latter, means for adjustably engaging said inclined front supporting member with the ironing table at different distances from the table-pivot, and a substantially upright tensioning tie-rod connecting the table with the subjacent rear member ofthefoldable frame, said tie-rod attached to the table and provided with. :a

lateral pin to engage one. or another of said openings, and a latch. mounted. on said aperturedz frame-member and. overlappingv the lower end of the tie member for locki'ngits pin in place.

3'. The combination, ofa foldable fname having, members, one of which has a series of openings, an ironing table pivoted" at one end to one of said frame-members, means for adjustably engaging. the 1 other frame member withthe ironing board at different distances from the table-pivot, a, tie-member attached to. the table and provided with. a lateral pin to engage one or another of said openings, and a latch pivoted to said apertured frame-member and co-exten'sive with said series of openings to retain said pinin any one of them.

4].. The combination with a foldable frame having members, one of which has a series of openings in its side, an ironing'table pivoted'at one end to one of. said frame-mem hers, means for adjnstably engaging the other frame-member with the. ironing-board at different distances from the tablepivot, a substantially-upright tie-rod attached to the table and provided. at itslower end with a lateral pin adapted to enter one oranother of said openings, and a locking'latch pivoted to said apertured' frame member at one end of its seriesv of openings and extending throughout the series, said apertured frame member having a notch arranged to receive having members, one of which has a series of openings in its side, an ironing-table pivoted at one end to one of said frame-members, means for adjustably engaging the 5 other frame-member with the ironing-board at different distances from the table-pivot, a substantially upright tie member attached to the table and provided at its lower end with a lateral pin adapted to enter one or another of said openings, and an eye on the underside of the table arranged to receive the pin of the tie-member in the folded position of the frame and the tie-member.

FENWICK L. ELLIS. 

